Friday, May 2, 2014

Why the Gospel is Rejected

In our culture today the gospel is often
times rejected. Currently the U.S. is all about being “politically correct” and
not offending anyone, but the gospel is very offensive. The gospel tells us
that we are sinners (Romans 3:23) and that there is nothing that we can do on
our own to change that (Ephesians 2:9). The gospel is often perceived as very
narrow, and Christians as narrow-minded.

I
believe that morals are often taught by parents and culture, so if a person
does not grow up hearing about the gospel it’s easy to just reject it. People would like to believe that their
personal morals are enough, and that they don’t need anyone or anything to tell
them what’s right and wrong.

I think some people reject the gospel
because they have been hurt by the church or Christians in the past. Sometimes
Christians can be a bit judgmental, and often forget to “remove the plank from
their own eye” before trying to point out sin in someone else’s life. I think
another emotional reason people reject the gospel is because it’s just hard to
accept that you have done something wrong. It’s not easy to admit that you need
help, or that you have made a mistake. So if people just reject the whole
gospel then they don’t have to admit their sins, or mistakes.

As for intellectual reasons for rejecting
the gospel, I think there are many. Science can explain many things in the
world, and people tend to believe that science and God cannot coexist. God is
then pushed out of the picture and labeled “impossible” simply because He can’t
be explained. People often times have trouble believing something they can’t
physically see or touch. Having simple faith can be hard sometimes because
intellectually you want to be able to explain everything, and there are some
things that you just can’t explain about God. That’s because “His thoughts are
not our thoughts,” some things we just can’t wrap our minds around.

There are many ways we, as Christian’s,
can address these objections and learn to better communicate the gospel. I
think the first thing we need to learn to do is simply listen. We need to learn
to stop talking and listen to what the other person has to say. If you first
let the other person talk you will learn what it is they believe, and from
there you can figure out how to best minister to them. Being compassionate and
understanding of where people are coming from is also very helpful. If you can
relate to them on some level and be more personal with them it is easier to
share your beliefs. They must know that you really care about them, and not just
winning them over. One way to handle intellectual rejections of the gospel is
by asking them questions to get them thinking. One question you could bring up
is, “How it is that all the earth is in the perfect location to be able to
sustain life? If the tilt of the earth were off by just a tiny bit we wouldn't
be able to live here.” I think it all comes down to one thing though. We need
to love God, and love people. If we can do that lives will be changed.

1 comment:

EXAMPLE: If you are commanded to eat food and drink water so you may stay alive; the inference is if you do not eat and drink you will die.

THE COROLLARIES OF SALVATION!

Acts 16:30-31 and after he brought them out, he said. "Sirs, what must I do to be saved ?" 31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.

The positive command: Believe in the Lord Jesus to be saved.

The corollary: If you do not believe you will remain lost.

Matthew 10:22 You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

The positive statement: Endure to the end to be saved.

The corollary: Those who do not endure will be lost.

Mark 16:16 ....and has been baptized shall be saved.....

The positive statement: Has been baptized shall be saved.

The corollary: Those who have not been baptized will not be saved.

John 10:9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

The positive statement: Jesus said enter through Him and you will be saved.

The corollary: If you do not enter through Jesus you will be lost.

Acts 2:21 'And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

The positive statement: Everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.

The corollary: If you do not call on the Lord you will not be saved.

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. you will be saved;

The positive statement: Confess Jesus as Lord and believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus and you will be saved.

The corollary: Fail to confess and believe and you will be lost.

Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The positive statement: Repent and be baptized and your sins will be forgiven and you will receive the gift the the Holy Spirit.

The corollary: Reject baptism and fail to repent; and your sins will not be forgiven and you will not receive the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 5:1-5.....I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan, for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

The positive statement: If the church disciplines immoral church members and they repent they will be saved.

The corollary: If the church fails to discipline immoral church members and they fail to repent they will be lost.

Act 3:19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;

The positive statement: If you repent of your unbelief and sin, and turn toward God your sins will be wiped away.

The corollary: If you do not repent your sins will remain on your record.

2 Thessalonians 2:10 and with all the deception of the wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

The negative statement: Some men will not be saved because they did not love the truth.

The corollary: If you love the truth you will be saved.

1 Peter 3:20-21...safely through water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you---not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience---through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

The positive state: Baptism saves you because of your appeal to God.

The corollary: If you do not appeal to God through water baptism, then, baptism cannot save you.